HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE), the intermediary holding company for HD Hyundai’s shipbuilding sector, has unveiled a nuclear-powered container ship model utilizing Small Modular Reactor (SMR) technology.
The 15,000 TEU-class container ship model, which previously received Approval in Principle (AIP) from the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), incorporates actual equipment and safety design concepts to improve economic efficiency and safety. Unlike conventional ships, nuclear-powered vessels eliminate the need for engine exhaust systems and fuel tanks. HD KSOE has optimized the space previously occupied by large engine room equipment to accommodate additional containers, enhancing the ship’s economic viability.
To ensure safety, HD KSOE has applied a marine radiation shielding system using a double-tank method with stainless steel and light water. Additionally, the company collaborated with global energy technology firm Baker Hughes to integrate a supercritical carbon dioxide-based propulsion system, which improves thermal efficiency by approximately 5% compared to traditional steam-based systems.
HD KSOE plans to establish a marine nuclear demonstration facility at its Future Technology Test Center in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, to verify safety designs. The company has been accelerating its SMR technology development through joint research with TerraPower since February 2023. In December 2023, HD KSOE secured an order to manufacture the main equipment for TerraPower’s Natrium reactor, currently under construction in Wyoming, USA.
The unveiling of the nuclear-powered container ship model marks a significant step in HD KSOE’s efforts to advance marine nuclear technology and contribute to the global shipbuilding industry’s transition toward carbon neutrality.
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